Black People And Capitalism DON'T Mix
- Thread starter Medicate
- Start date
Reality
Make your own luck.
Salute @Medicate and the African People's Socialist Party
Modern capitalism was made possible through the process of primitive accumulation - the genocide, enslavement, and theft of resources from non-European peoples. Afrikans were particularly impacted by this. This illegitimate distribution of wealth and power - a result of slavery and colonialism - is still a pillar of the global economic order. And even in the U.S., we see things like the prison-industrial complex targeting Afrikans. Someone is growing their wealth off of this (I'll let you guess who). The roots of racism are economic, and the history of capitalism and racism are intertwined.
Here's the thing-- I don't disagree with anything you said here, nor do I think many others responding to Medicate do. What folks are taking issue with is the fact that he doesn't seem to say anything other than "We can't be successful in this system" over and over and over again as if that's going to convince anyone. If I were to ask @Medicate what he thinks any of us should do as individuals, I doubt he would have an answer. On the other hand you'd probably here pretty similar things from folks responding to him in the thread.
JahFocus CS
Get It How You Get It
Keep thinking socialism alone will save you
That's your response when you're asked to provide an actual argument with evidence? That shows the intellectual bankruptcy of your position.
work smart not hard
JahFocus CS
Get It How You Get It
Well, I can't speak for Medicate and I don't know what his stance on this is, but I'm not saying that Afrikans can't be "successful" under capitalism. The thing is, the vast majority of humanity overall is working class, and for a group systematically targeted such as Afrikans, an even smaller number of individuals will be able to be part of the ruling class. There are many wealthy Afrikans around the world. It isn't that Afrikans are biologically incapable of building wealth (if anyone was making this argument, it would obviously be racist). But it is illegitimate to point to individuals and say, "Look - he/she can do it, why can't you?" That just completely ignores socioeconomic realities and structures.
As individuals, I say, work to gain material security and build wealth. I don't knock folks at all for trying to do that; it is important to do, especially when you have very little. That is the economic reality we face and the system we live under. But recognize the illegitimacy of the system and organize to build communal wealth and class consciousness.
notPsychosiz
I started this gangsta sh-
Right because I'm simplistic and dumb one....
So @notPsychosiz tell me how capitalism is working out for you breh:
http://www.thecoli.com/posts/10724753/
@DEAD7 take notes ^^^
I'm not a big fan of capitalism, to tell you the truth.
I could be making alot more doing music (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosiz) but I stopped cause there was so many white and jewish hands in my pocket I would rather make 1/10th what I could be making, and just be at home.
Being my own boss is more important to me than the money.
I'm good at making money, and by all estimations I am what most people would consuder successful, but I am happier now being free than when I was in a position to accumulate wealth and fame but felt trapped... if that makes sense.
Don't start a business to make money.
Start a business and make money to get control of your life back from their stupid racist system.
JahFocus CS
Get It How You Get It
Another thing is that people try to divorce capitalism from the state. The modern state is a capitalist institution in the first place. How would capitalism function without copyrights, trademarks, contract enforcement, etc.? Who would forcefully open up new markets, if not militaries?
notPsychosiz
I started this gangsta sh-
You are both sort of right. Capitalism by itself does not create slaves, it creates inequality as Napolean indicated... but it is the (capitalist) idea of interest/riba/usury that makes it so that slaves exist.
Without interest, all debt can theoretically be paid off. Therefore, no one would truely be a slave.... only in temporary servatude until they are even. This is why the idea of interest (or riba in islam... or usury in christianity) was expressly forbidden as a sin in the old world. But then banks popped up and here we are.
JahFocus CS
Get It How You Get It
Capitalism creates wage slaves because people without capital are forced to sell their labor in order to survive.
Riba is a particularly entrapping feature in capitalism, but it is not the central contradiction.
Riba is a particularly entrapping feature in capitalism, but it is not the central contradiction.
notPsychosiz
I started this gangsta sh-
True. There are alot of pieces. Each plays a role.
Permits and liscensing for example are largely to prevent the poor from generating their own income.
Go sit on your lawn and try to sell lemonade and see how long before the cops show up to 'protect and serve' you.
Taxation ensures the businesses as a whole can never accumulate more than the lender or state.
Its a very intricate system.
This is also the main consideration in making things like prostitution and brewing alcohol or growing weed illegal. Despite what is presented, these things are illegal because they are all things poor people can start doing right now and generate money without being relegated to working for anyone else.
If you think its just weed, try growing tobaco and selling it and see how quick you get your door kicked in.
shyt... try growing tomatos.
Anything that could liberate you is illegal to do.
I can only sell books on amazon cause amazon takes a cut and if the government wants they can shut me or them down. So I'm still employed, just removed from having to go into the office. Its enough to give you a headache.
Lets not play fast and loose with the word "slave"
Cause we don't have slavery right now. Debt-slavery shouldn't even be a word because it makes actual slavery look less immoral and profound.
And interest in Islam DOES happen. They use loopholes to sell the asset back at a higher price to essentially make more of a profit on the loan. They have all sorts of ways around it.
Fam. I just can't take you seriously when you say stuff like this.
notPsychosiz
I started this gangsta sh-
I don't take your meaning.
Right now I sell books on Amazon.
I could make a lot more money if I was doing shows and touring.
Its not even close, really.